Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Workers' Party of Korea
{{Short description|Defunct offices within the Workers's Party of Korea}}
{{Infobox Political post
| post = Chairman and Vice Chairman
| body = the
Workers' Party of Korea
| native_name = {{nobold|{{lang|ko|조선로동당 위원장}}}}
| flag = WPK_symbol.svg
| flagsize = 120px
| flagcaption = Emblem of the Workers' Party of Korea
| insignia = WPK Chairman emblem.svg
| insigniacaption = Emblem of the WPK Chairman
| department = Workers' Party of Korea
| image =
| incumbent =
| imagecaption = First officeholder
Pak Hon-yong
13 October 1945
| type = Deputy leader
| residence = Forbidden City
| seat = Pyongyang
| nominator = Central Committee
| termlength = No fixed term
| constituting_instrument = WPK Rulebook
| inaugural = Pak Hon-yong
| appointer = Central Committee
| deputy =
| formation = 28 August 1946
| imagesize = 165px
}}
The Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) were offices that existed within the WPK between 1949–66 and 2016–21. The office of "Chairman of the Central Committee" existed between 1949–66 and the office of "Chairman of the Workers' Party of Korea" existed in 2016–21. The deputy to the Chairman, the officeholder of Vice Chairman of the Central Committee existed in 1949–66 and 2016–21. This list also includes the chairmen and vice chairmen of the direct predecessors of the WPK.
Title history
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Title
! Established ! Abolished ! Established by |
|---|
| Vice Chairman of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of North Korea
| align="center" | 10 April 1946 | align="center" | 30 August 1946 | 5th Enlarged Plenary Session of the North Korean Branch Bureau's Executive Committee |
| Vice Chairman of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of North Korea
| align="center" | 30 August 1946 | align="center" | 24 June 1949 |
| Vice Chairman of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of South Korea
| align="center" | 24 November 1946 | align="center" | 24 June 1949 |
| rowspan="2" | Vice Chairman of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea
| align="center" | 24 June 1949 | align="center" | 12 October 1966 | 1st Joint Plenary Session of the 2nd Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea |
| align="center" | 9 May 2016
| align="center" | 10 January 2021 |
| colspan="4" unsortable | References: {{sfn|Suh|1981|pp=280, 316, 318, 319 & 338}} |
Chairmen
| class="wikitable" |
| scope="col" class="unsortable" | Title
! scope="col" | Officeholder ! class="unsortable" | Hangul ! scope="col" | Birth ! scope="col" | Death ! scope="col" | Took office ! scope="col" | Left office ! scope="col" | Duration |
|---|
| Chairman of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Korea
! align="center" scope="row" style="font-weight:normal;" | Pak Hon-yong ! align="center" scope="row" style="font-weight:normal;" | 박헌영 | align="center" | 1900 | align="center" | 1955 | align="center" | 14 September 1945 | align="center" | 10 April 1946 | align="center" | {{ayd|14 September 1945|10 April 1946|sep=and}} |
| Chairman of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of South Korea
! align="center" scope="row" style="font-weight:normal;" | Pak Hon-yong ! align="center" scope="row" style="font-weight:normal;" | 박헌영 | align="center" | 1900 | align="center" | 1955 | align="center" | 10 April 1946 | align="center" | 24 November 1946 | align="center" | {{ayd|10 April 1946|24 November 1946|sep=and}} |
| Chairman of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of North Korea
! align="center" scope="row" style="font-weight:normal;" | Kim Tu-bong ! align="center" scope="row" style="font-weight:normal;" | 김두봉 | align="center" | 1889 | align="center" | 1958 | align="center" | 24 November 1946 | align="center" | 24 June 1949 | align="center" | {{ayd|24 November 1946|24 June 1949|sep=and}} |
| Chairman of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of South Korea
! align="center" scope="row" style="font-weight:normal;" | Ho Hon ! align="center" scope="row" style="font-weight:normal;" | 허헌 | align="center" | 1885 | align="center" | 1951 | align="center" | 24 November 1946 | align="center" | 24 June 1949 | align="center" | {{ayd|24 November 1946|24 June 1949|sep=and}} |
| Chairman of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea
! align="center" scope="row" style="font-weight:normal;" | Kim Il Sung ! align="center" scope="row" style="font-weight:normal;" | 김일성 | align="center" | 1912 | align="center" | 1994 | align="center" | 24 June 1949 | align="center" | 12 October 1966 | align="center" | {{ayd|24 June 1949|12 October 1966|sep=and}} |
| Chairman of the Workers' Party of Korea
! align="center" scope="row" style="font-weight:normal;" | Kim Jong Un ! align="center" scope="row" style="font-weight:normal;" | 김정은 | align="center" | 1983 | align="center" | Alive | align="center" | 9 May 2016 | align="center" | 10 January 2021 | align="center" | {{ayd|9 May 2016|10 January 2021|sep=and}} |
| colspan="9" unsortable | References: {{sfn|Suh|1981|pp=280, 316 & 319}}{{sfn|Suh|1981|p=318}}{{sfn|Suh|1981|p=338}}{{Cite web| via = KCNA Watch | title = Official Report of First Plenary Meeting of 7th WPK Central Committee Issued | agency = Korean Central News Agency | date = 10 May 2016 | access-date = 6 February 2021 | url = https://kcnawatch.org/newstream/1546386816-183677930/official-report-of-first-plenary-meeting-of-7th-wpk-central-committee-issued/ | archive-date = 8 February 2021 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210208124155/https://kcnawatch.org/newstream/1546386816-183677930/official-report-of-first-plenary-meeting-of-7th-wpk-central-committee-issued/ }} |
Vice chairmen
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| scope="col" | Name
! class="unsortable" | Hangul ! scope="col" | Birth ! scope="col" | Death ! scope="col" | Took office ! scope="col" | Left office ! scope="col" | Duration ! scope="col" | Rank |
|---|
| align="center" scope="row" style="font-weight:normal;" | An Jong-su
! align="center" scope="row" style="font-weight:normal;" | 안정수 | align="center" | 1951 | align="center" | Alive | align="center" | 7 October 2017 | align="center" | 31 December 2019 | align="center" | {{ayd|7 October 2017|31 December 2019|sep=and}} | align="center" | |
| align="center" scope="row" style="font-weight:normal;" | Choe Hwi
! align="center" scope="row" style="font-weight:normal;" | 최휘 | align="center" | 1954 | align="center" | Alive | align="center" | 7 October 2017 | align="center" | 10 January 2021 | align="center" | {{ayd|7 October 2017|10 January 2021|sep=and}} | align="center" | |
| align="center" scope="row" style="font-weight:normal;" | Choe Ryong-hae
! align="center" scope="row" style="font-weight:normal;" | 최룡해 | align="center" | 1950 | align="center" | Alive | align="center" | 9 May 2016 | align="center" | 10 January 2021 | align="center" | {{ayd|9 May 2016|10 January 2021|sep=and}} | align="center" | |
| align="center" scope="row" style="font-weight:normal;" | Choe Thae-bok
! align="center" scope="row" style="font-weight:normal;" | 최태복 | align="center" | 1930 | align="center" | 2024 | align="center" | 9 May 2016 | align="center" | 7 October 2017 | align="center" | {{ayd|9 May 2016|7 October 2017|sep=and}} | align="center" | |
| align="center" scope="row" style="font-weight:normal;" | Choe Yong-gon
! align="center" scope="row" style="font-weight:normal;" | 최용건 | align="center" | 1900 | align="center" | 1976 | align="center" | 29 April 1956 | align="center" | 12 October 1966 | align="center" | {{ayd|29 April 1956|12 October 1966|sep=and}} | align="center" | 1 |
| align="center" scope="row" style="font-weight:normal;" | Chong Il-yong
! align="center" scope="row" style="font-weight:normal;" | 종일용 | align="center" | ? | align="center" | ? | align="center" | 29 April 1956 | align="center" | 18 September 1961 | align="center" | {{ayd|29 April 1956|18 September 1961|sep=and}} | align="center" | 4 |
| align="center" scope="row" style="font-weight:normal;" | Chu Yong-ha
! align="center" scope="row" style="font-weight:normal;" | 주영하 | align="center" | 1908 | align="center" | 1956 | align="center" | 30 August 1946 | align="center" | 30 March 1948 | align="center" | {{ayd|30 August 1946|30 March 1948|sep=and}} | align="center" | |
| rowspan="2" align="center" scope="row" style="font-weight:normal;" | Ho Ka-i
! rowspan="2" align="center" scope="row" style="font-weight:normal;" | 허가이 | rowspan="2" align="center" | 1908 | rowspan="2" align="center" | 1953 | align="center" | 30 March 1948 | align="center" | 24 June 1949 | align="center" | {{ayd|30 March 1948|24 June 1949|sep=and}} | align="center" | |
| align="center" | 24 June 1949
| align="center" | 2 July 1953 | align="center" | {{ayd|24 June 1949|2 July 1953|sep=and}} | align="center" | 2 |
| align="center" scope="row" style="font-weight:normal;" | Kim Chang-man
! align="center" scope="row" style="font-weight:normal;" | 김창만 | align="center" | ? | align="center" | ? | align="center" | 29 April 1956 | align="center" | 12 October 1966 | align="center" | {{ayd|29 April 1956|12 October 1966|sep=and}} | align="center" | 5 |
| align="center" scope="row" style="font-weight:normal;" | Kim Hyong-jun
! align="center" scope="row" style="font-weight:normal;" | 김형준 | align="center" | 1949 | align="center" | Alive | align="center" | 31 December 2019 | align="center" | 10 January 2021 | align="center" | {{ayd|31 December 2019|10 January 2021|sep=and}} | align="center" | |
| rowspan="2" align="center" scope="row" style="font-weight:normal;" | Kim Il
! rowspan="2" align="center" scope="row" style="font-weight:normal;" | 김일 | rowspan="2" align="center" | 1910 | rowspan="2" align="center" | 1984 | align="center" | 6 August 1953 | align="center" | 23 March 1954 | align="center" | {{ayd|6 August 1953|23 March 1954|sep=and}} | align="center" | 3 |
| align="center" | 18 September 1961
| align="center" | 12 October 1966 | align="center" | {{ayd|18 September 1961|12 October 1966|sep=and}} | align="center" | 2 |
| align="center" scope="row" style="font-weight:normal;" | Kim Il Sung
! align="center" scope="row" style="font-weight:normal;" | 김일성 | align="center" | 1912 | align="center" | 1994 | align="center" | 30 August 1946 | align="center" | 24 June 1949 | align="center" | {{ayd|30 August 1946|24 June 1949|sep=and}} | align="center" | |
| align="center" scope="row" style="font-weight:normal;" | Kim Jae-ryong
! align="center" scope="row" style="font-weight:normal;" | 김재룡 | align="center" | 1959 | align="center" | Alive | align="center" | 13 August 2020 | align="center" | 10 January 2021 | align="center" | {{ayd|13 August 2020|10 January 2021|sep=and}} | align="center" | |
| align="center" scope="row" style="font-weight:normal;" | Kim Ki-nam
! align="center" scope="row" style="font-weight:normal;" | 김기남 | align="center" | 1934 | align="center" | 2024 | align="center" | 9 May 2016 | align="center" | 7 October 2017 | align="center" | {{ayd|9 May 2016|7 October 2017|sep=and}} | align="center" | |
| align="center" scope="row" style="font-weight:normal;" | Kim Phyong-hae
! align="center" scope="row" style="font-weight:normal;" | 김평해 | align="center" | 1941 | align="center" | Alive | align="center" | 9 May 2016 | align="center" | 31 December 2019 | align="center" | {{ayd|9 May 2016|31 December 2019|sep=and}} | align="center" | |
| align="center" scope="row" style="font-weight:normal;" | Kim Tok-hun
! align="center" scope="row" style="font-weight:normal;" | 김덕훈 | align="center" | 1961 | align="center" | Alive | align="center" | 31 December 2019 | align="center" | 10 January 2021 | align="center" | {{ayd|31 December 2019|10 January 2021|sep=and}} | align="center" | |
| align="center" scope="row" style="font-weight:normal;" | Kim Yong-chol
! align="center" scope="row" style="font-weight:normal;" | 김영철 | align="center" | 1946 | align="center" | Alive | align="center" | 9 May 2016 | align="center" | 10 January 2021 | align="center" | {{ayd|9 May 2016|10 January 2021|sep=and}} | align="center" | |
| align="center" scope="row" style="font-weight:normal;" | Kwak Pom-gi
! align="center" scope="row" style="font-weight:normal;" | 곽범기 | align="center" | 1939 | align="center" | Alive | align="center" | 9 May 2016 | align="center" | 7 October 2017 | align="center" | {{ayd|9 May 2016|7 October 2017|sep=and}} | align="center" | |
| align="center" scope="row" style="font-weight:normal;" | O Su-yong
! align="center" scope="row" style="font-weight:normal;" | 오수용 | align="center" | 1944 | align="center" | Alive | align="center" | 9 May 2016 | align="center" | 10 January 2021 | align="center" | {{ayd|9 May 2016|10 January 2021|sep=and}} | align="center" | |
| align="center" scope="row" style="font-weight:normal;" | Pak Chang-ok
! align="center" scope="row" style="font-weight:normal;" | 박창옥 | align="center" | 1911 | align="center" | 1958 | align="center" | 6 August 1953 | align="center" | 23 March 1954 | align="center" | {{ayd|6 August 1953|23 March 1954|sep=and}} | align="center" | 2 |
| align="center" scope="row" style="font-weight:normal;" | Pak Chong-ae
! align="center" scope="row" style="font-weight:normal;" | 박정애 | align="center" | 1907 | align="center" | 1986 | align="center" | 6 August 1953 | align="center" | 18 September 1961 | align="center" | {{ayd|6 August 1953|18 September 1961|sep=and}} | align="center" | 1 |
| rowspan="2" align="center" scope="row" style="font-weight:normal;" | Pak Hon-yong
! rowspan="2" align="center" scope="row" style="font-weight:normal;" | 박헌영 | rowspan="2" align="center" | 1900 | rowspan="2" align="center" | 1955 | align="center" | 24 November 1946 | align="center" | 24 June 1949 | align="center" | {{ayd|24 November 1946|24 June 1949|sep=and}} | align="center" | |
| align="center" | 24 June 1949
| align="center" | 6 August 1953 | align="center" | {{ayd|24 June 1949|6 August 1953|sep=and}} | align="center" | 1 |
| align="center" scope="row" style="font-weight:normal;" | Pak Kum-chol
! align="center" scope="row" style="font-weight:normal;" | 박금철 | align="center" | 1911 | align="center" | 1967 | align="center" | 23 March 1954 | align="center" | 12 October 1966 | align="center" | {{ayd|23 March 1954|12 October 1966|sep=and}} | align="center" | 3 |
| align="center" scope="row" style="font-weight:normal;" | Pak Kwang-ho
! align="center" scope="row" style="font-weight:normal;" | 박광호 | align="center" | 1949 | align="center" | Alive | align="center" | 7 October 2017 | align="center" | 31 December 2019 | align="center" | {{ayd|7 October 2017|31 December 2019|sep=and}} | align="center" | |
| align="center" scope="row" style="font-weight:normal;" | Pak Pong-ju
! align="center" scope="row" style="font-weight:normal;" | 박봉주 | align="center" | 1939 | align="center" | Alive | align="center" | 10 April 2019 | align="center" | 10 January 2021 | align="center" | {{ayd|10 April 2019|10 January 2021|sep=and}} | align="center" | |
| rowspan="2" align="center" scope="row" style="font-weight:normal;" | Pak Thae-dok
! rowspan="2" align="center" scope="row" style="font-weight:normal;" | 박태덕 | rowspan="2" align="center" | 1955 | rowspan="2" align="center" | Alive | align="center" | 7 October 2017 | align="center" | 28 February 2020 | align="center" | {{ayd|7 October 2017|28 February 2020|sep=and}} | align="center" | |
| align="center" | 13 August 2020
| align="center" | 10 January 2021 | align="center" | {{ayd|13 August 2020|10 January 2021|sep=and}} | align="center" | |
| align="center" scope="row" style="font-weight:normal;" | Pak Thae-song
! align="center" scope="row" style="font-weight:normal;" | 박태성 | align="center" | 1955 | align="center" | Alive | align="center" | 7 October 2017 | align="center" | 10 January 2021 | align="center" | {{ayd|7 October 2017|10 January 2021|sep=and}} | align="center" | |
| align="center" scope="row" style="font-weight:normal;" | Pak Yong-bin
! align="center" scope="row" style="font-weight:normal;" | 박용빈 | align="center" | ? | align="center" | ? | align="center" | 23 March 1954 | align="center" | 18 September 1961 | align="center" | {{ayd|23 March 1954|18 September 1961|sep=and}} | align="center" | 4 |
| align="center" scope="row" style="font-weight:normal;" | Ri Il-hwan
! align="center" scope="row" style="font-weight:normal;" | 리일환 | align="center" | 1960 | align="center" | Alive | align="center" | 31 December 2019 | align="center" | 10 January 2021 | align="center" | {{ayd|31 December 2019|10 January 2021|sep=and}} | align="center" | |
| align="center" scope="row" style="font-weight:normal;" | Ri Man-gon
! align="center" scope="row" style="font-weight:normal;" | 리만건 | align="center" | 1945 | align="center" | Alive | align="center" | 9 May 2016 | align="center" | 28 February 2020 | align="center" | {{ayd|9 May 2016|28 February 2020|sep=and}} | align="center" | |
| align="center" scope="row" style="font-weight:normal;" | Ri Pyong-chol
! align="center" scope="row" style="font-weight:normal;" | 리병철 | align="center" | 1948 | align="center" | Alive | align="center" | 31 December 2019 | align="center" | 10 January 2021 | align="center" | {{ayd|31 December 2019|10 January 2021|sep=and}} | align="center" | |
| align="center" scope="row" style="font-weight:normal;" | Ri Su-yong
! align="center" scope="row" style="font-weight:normal;" | 리수용 | align="center" | 1940 | align="center" | Alive | align="center" | 9 May 2016 | align="center" | 31 December 2019 | align="center" | {{ayd|9 May 2016|31 December 2019|sep=and}} | align="center" | |
| align="center" scope="row" style="font-weight:normal;" | Thae Jong-su
! align="center" scope="row" style="font-weight:normal;" | 태종수 | align="center" | 1936 | align="center" | Alive | align="center" | 7 October 2017 | align="center" | 31 December 2019 | align="center" | {{ayd|7 October 2017|31 December 2019|sep=and}} | align="center" | |
| align="center" scope="row" style="font-weight:normal;" | Yi Hyo-sun
! align="center" scope="row" style="font-weight:normal;" | 이효선 | align="center" | ? | align="center" | ? | align="center" | 18 September 1961 | align="center" | 12 October 1966 | align="center" | {{ayd|18 September 1961|12 October 1966|sep=and}} | align="center" | 5 |
| align="center" scope="row" style="font-weight:normal;" | Yi Ki-sok
! align="center" scope="row" style="font-weight:normal;" | 이기석 | align="center" | ? | align="center" | ? | align="center" | 24 November 1946 | align="center" | 24 June 1949 | align="center" | {{ayd|24 November 1946|24 June 1949|sep=and}} | align="center" | |
| colspan="9" unsortable | References: {{sfn|Suh|1981|pp=280, 316 & 319}}{{sfn|Suh|1981|p=318}}{{sfn|Suh|1981|p=338}}{{Cite web| via = KCNA Watch | title = Second Plenum of Seventh WPK Central Committee | agency = Korean Central News Agency | date = 8 October 2017 | access-date = 6 February 2021 | url = https://kcnawatch.org/newstream/1507453321-366833140/second-plenum-of-seventh-wpk-central-committee/ | archive-date = 8 February 2021 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210208124422/https://kcnawatch.org/newstream/1507453321-366833140/second-plenum-of-seventh-wpk-central-committee/ }}{{Cite web| via = KCNA Watch | title = 3rd Plenary Meeting of 7th C.C., WPK Held in Presence of Kim Jong Un | agency = Korean Central News Agency | date = 21 April 2018 | access-date = 6 February 2021 | url = https://kcnawatch.org/newstream/1524400229-922732211/3rd-plenary-meeting-of-7th-c-c-wpk-held-in-presence-of-kim-jong-un/ | archive-date = 8 February 2021 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210208124609/https://kcnawatch.org/newstream/1524400229-922732211/3rd-plenary-meeting-of-7th-c-c-wpk-held-in-presence-of-kim-jong-un/ }}{{Cite web| via = KCNA Watch | title = Report on 4th Plenary Meeting of 7th Central Committee of WPK | agency = Korean Central News Agency | date = 11 April 2019 | access-date = 6 February 2021 | url = https://kcnawatch.org/newstream/1555480973-209426963/report-on-4th-plenary-meeting-of-7th-central-committee-of-wpk/ | archive-date = 8 February 2021 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210208124726/https://kcnawatch.org/newstream/1555480973-209426963/report-on-4th-plenary-meeting-of-7th-central-committee-of-wpk/ }}{{Cite web| via = KCNA Watch | title = Report on 5th Plenary Meeting of 7th C.C., WPK | agency = Korean Central News Agency | date = 1 January 2020 | access-date = 6 February 2021 | url = https://kcnawatch.org/newstream/1577829999-473709661/report-on-5th-plenary-meeting-of-7th-c-c-wpk/ | archive-date = 8 February 2021 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210208124846/https://kcnawatch.org/newstream/1577829999-473709661/report-on-5th-plenary-meeting-of-7th-c-c-wpk/ }}{{Cite web| via = KCNA Watch | title = 6th Plenary Meeting of 7th Central Committee of WPK Held | agency = Korean Central News Agency | date = 20 August 2020 | access-date = 6 February 2021 | url = https://kcnawatch.org/newstream/1597977932-466293166/6th-plenary-meeting-of-7th-central-committee-of-wpk-held/ | archive-date = 8 February 2021 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210208125022/https://kcnawatch.org/newstream/1597977932-466293166/6th-plenary-meeting-of-7th-central-committee-of-wpk-held/ }} |
References
=Footnotes=
{{Reflist}}
=Bibliography=
{{Refbegin}}
- {{cite book | author = Suh, Dae-sook | ref = CITEREFSuh1981 | title = Korean Communism 1945–1980: A Reference Guide to the Political System | publisher = University Press of Hawaii | year = 1981 | isbn = 0-8248-0740-5| edition = 1st | pages = }}
{{Refend}}
{{WPKHeads}}